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Thumbnail of Longevity noodles (yi mein) in a green bowl.
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5 from 8 votes

Longevity Noodles (Yi Mein)

This longevity noodle recipe (Chinese birthday noodles) features perfectly chewy noodles, with shiitake mushrooms, Chinese garlic chives and a delicious savory umami sauce.
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time5 minutes
Total Time25 minutes
Course: Main
Cuisine: Chinese
Servings: 4
Calories: 93kcal
Author: Joyce Lee

Ingredients

  • 200 grams yi mein (7oz)
  • 6 large dried shiitake mushrooms
  • 1 cup Chinese yellow chives
  • 2 stalks green onions

Longevity Noodles Sauce

  • 2 tablespoons oil
  • 3 tablespoons oyster sauce
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
  • 1 teaspoon dark soy sauce (for color, can sub for regular soy sauce)
  • 1 cup water

Instructions

Reconstitute Dried Shiitake Mushrooms

  • **If you're using fresh shiitake mushrooms, go straight to the Preparation Section**
    If you're using dried shiitake mushrooms, soak 6 large dried shiitake mushrooms in hot water for about 20 minutes or until they're soft (It may take longer if you use thicker or larger dried shiitake mushrooms).
    (While you are waiting, prepare the rest of the ingredients).
    soaking shiitake mushrooms.
  • Use a plate or small bowl and place it on top of the mushrooms to fully submerge them in the water. Once they're soft, remove them from the water. They are ready to use!
    shiitake mushrooms being soaked in boiling water with a small bowl holding down the mushrooms under water.

Preparation

  • Cut off the tough stem from each shiitake mushroom, and discard it. Slice them thinly.
    slicing shiitake mushrooms on a cutting board.
  • Cut 1 cup Chinese yellow chives into 2-inch pieces, and set them aside.
    chopping chinese yellow chives in 2 inch pieces on a cutting board.
  • Cut and remove the rooted tips from 2 stalks green onions and cut them into 2-inch pieces. Slice the thicker white parts of the green onion, and slice them again lengthwise to make them thinner.
    Chopping green onions in 2 inch lengthwise pieces on a cutting board.
  • In a bowl, mix together 3 tablespoons oyster sauce, 2 tablespoons soy sauce, 1 teaspoon sugar, 1 teaspoon sesame oil, 1 teaspoon dark soy sauce (or regular soy sauce), and 2 tablespoons oil.
  • Once the sauce has been mixed, stir in 1 cup water and set it aside for later.

Par-Boil the Noodles

  • Fill a large pot with water, and bring it up to a boil on high heat.
  • Add 200 grams yi mein to the boiling water, and press it down to submerge it into the water for a few seconds, then flip it.
    par boiling yee mein noodles in boiling water for 30 seconds.
  • Cook it for 30 seconds to 1 minute. Use a utensil and gently wiggle the noodles until everything has loosened.
  • Once they are cooked, drain the noodles and set them aside.
    Yi mein par boiled in a strainer.

Stir Fry Everything Together

  • Rinse out the large pot you used to boil the noodles, set it over the stove, and set it to medium-high heat. Once it is hot, add a bit of oil.
  • Add the sliced shiitake mushrooms and stir fry them until they are golden brown and fragrant, approx. 2-3 minutes.
  • Add the Chinese chives and stir fry for a few seconds.
    stir frying mushrooms in a large pot.
  • Add a bit more oil to the pan and add the parboiled yi mein noodles.
  • Pour the sauce over the noodles and toss everything together until the noodles are well coated with the sauce. Add the green onions in now as well.
    adding the yi mein back into the pot with the mushrooms and chives.
  • Stir fry everything for 2-3 minutes. Keep the noodles moving in the pan to prevent them from sticking. Once all the sauce has been absorbed, the noodles are done.
    longevity noodles, yee mein, done in a large pot.
  • Transfer the noodles to a serving dish. Enjoy!

Notes

  • Choose the Right Noodles: Traditionally, Chinese birthday noodles are made with Yi Mein noodles, which are also known as "long life noodles" due to their long, uncut strands symbolizing longevity. You can find these at deep fried noodles at Asian grocery stores, and they almost always come in a dried round brick form. If you can't find Yi Mein, you can use other long noodles like spaghetti as a substitute.
  • Soaking Dried Shiitake Mushrooms: Using boiling water to soak the mushrooms will speed up the process, but I find that using a dish to push the mushrooms down so that they are fully submerged in the water helps even more. It takes me about 15 minutes for thin medium sized mushrooms to fully get soft. It may take longer if you use thicker or larger dried shiitake mushrooms.
  • Don't Overcook the Noodles: When boiling the noodles, be careful not to overcook them. For this recipe, boil the noodles for just 30 seconds to soften them slightly, as they will be stir-fried later and overcooking can make them mushy.
  • Simple Saucy Variation: Instead of pouring the sauce into the noodles, and letting it absorb, you can cook and thicken the sauce in the pot with the mushrooms before you add in the noodles. This will make these noodles saucy and the thicker sauce will coat the noodles instead. To do this, double the amount of sauce in the recipe card, and mix in 2 tablespoons of cornstarch into the sauce. Make sure the cornstarch has fully dissolved into the sauce. To cook the sauce, pour it in after you finished stir frying the mushrooms, and keep stirring until it is thick. Once it is thick, then add in the noodles and stir everything together.
  • Chinese Eggplant with Garlic Sauce Variation: Another type of sauce I love to use on yi mein is my sweet and savory Chinese eggplant with garlic sauce! To do this, omit the sauce in this recipe, and make the Chinese eggplant recipe and then pour it over the yi mein.
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